U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Office of Microenterprise Development (G/EGAD/MD), RRB, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 2.10-024, Washington, DC 20523

R -- IMPLEMENTATION GRANT PROGRAM, THE MICROENTERPRISE INNOVATION PROJECT SOL (BDS)G/EGAD/MD-00-A-002 POC Mona Swain, Tel: 202-712-0283; Fax: 202-216-3228; E-mail: nswain@usaid.gov WEB: http://www.info.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/announce/cbd, http://www.info.usaid.gov. E-MAIL: http://www.info.usaid.gov, mswain@usaid.gov. On or about November 15, 1999, Request for Applications for Business Development Services (RFA-BDS) RFA G/EGAD/MD-00-A-002 will be issued by the Office of Microenterprise Development in the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID's) Bureau for Global Affairs (G/EGAD/MD). The RFA-BDS will request Cooperative Agreement proposals from a wide range of organizations including U.S. PVOs, cooperatives, financial institutions, international organizations, developing country organizations, and for-profit firms. The purpose of the Cooperative Agreements (CAs) is to finance the development and delivery of innovative, high quality, replicable, efficient, and effective business development products and services for microenterprises. The CAs will not fund institutional development of the local or applicant organization. Applicants must have demonstrated capacity to implement microenterprise development programs. While for-profit firms may submit applications, it is USAID's policy not to award fees/profitsunder assistance instruments. For the purpose of this RFA, business development services include a broad range of products and services such as, but not limited to: (a) marketing assistance; (b) business training, mentoring, advisory, and information services; (c) business linkages; and (d) productivity-enhancing technologies. Cooperative Agreements will be fully or incrementally funded, depending on the availability of funds. Satisfactory progress will be measured in terms of achievement of specific program targets set for the local implementing organization. The progress will be verified by assessments conducted by G/EGAD/MD. Approximately 3 to 7 Cooperative Agreements will be awarded. Proposed programs must: 1) receive USAID Mission concurrence for each proposed country, 2) contribute at least 25% of the proposed program's cost in cash or in kind cost-share, 3) cover a period of 2 to 3 years, and 4) total not more than $750,000 of USAID funding. Each proposal must be for one or more countries chosen from among those countries world-wide currently eligible for USAID funding. An applicant may submit more than one proposal. Interested applicants should request the RFA in writing by faxing (202)216-3228 or writing via the U.S. Postal Service to the Office of Microenterprise Development, Economic Growth and Agricultural Development Center, Bureau for Global Affairs, United States Agency for International Development, RRB Room 2.11-024, Washington, D.C. 20523-2110. Attention: Mona Swain. Any mail sent by courier should be sent to Mona Swain at the Office of Microenterprise Development, Economic Growth and Agricultural Development Center, Bureau for Global Affairs, United States Agency for International Development, RRB Room 2.11-024, Washington, D.C. 20523. This CBD notice can be viewed and downloaded using the Agency Web site. The RFA-BDS, once issued, can be downloaded from the Agency Web site. The Worldwide Web address is http://www.info.usaid.gov. Select Business and Procurement Opportunities from the home page, then "USAID Procurements." On the following screen, select "Download Available USAID Solicitations." Receipt of the RFA-BDS through INTERNET must be confirmed by written notification to the contact person noted above. It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation document to ensure that is has been received from INTERNET in its entirety and USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Posted 11/01/99 (W-SN396785). (0305)

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